WAR

WAR

 susan ambrosino

it could be your son out there

the son you still persist in believing

belongs to you

but doesn’t anymore.

when he was growing up

you were totally engrossed

in the delusion that you owned him.

he was totally engrossed

in who he was.

now…

that could be him out there¾

that young man so brave

and you’re sure so scared

but ready to die in the dust for the things

older men say he must die for.

does he know

it was you that sent him there ?

does he know

it was you

who relinquished his power ?

you sent him out to the barren desert sun

and many others like him

the innocent

the young

because who among your older men

possess the cavalier arrogance

of your young ?

who among your older men

still believe they are indestructible ?

none.